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Home/Species/ Ozark Zigzag Salamander

Plethodon angusticlavius

Grobman, 1944

Ozark Zigzag Salamander

G4Apparently Secure Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100907
Element CodeAAAAD12380
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyPlethodontidae
GenusPlethodon
Other Common Names
Ozark zigzag salamander (EN)
Concept Reference
Highton, R. 1997. Geographic protein variation and speciation in the Plethodon dorsalis complex. Herpetologica 53:345-356.
Taxonomic Comments
Recognized as a species distinct from P. dorsalis and P. ventralis by Highton (1997).
Conservation Status
Review Date2002-03-27
Change Date1997-10-18
Edition Date2002-03-27
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent5000-200,000 square km (about 2000-80,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
Ozark region of southern Missouri, northern Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma (Conant and Collins 1991, Highton 1997).
Occurrences Comments
Appears to be represented by many and/or large occurrences throughout most of the range.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Vicinity of moist rocky crevices in ravines, canyons, rubble, seepages, caves, and wooded slopes. Under rocks, logs, or leaves during day. Uses subterranean passages and crevices as nesting sites (Briggler and Puckette 2003).

Reproduction

Terrestrial breeder. In northwestern Arkansas, 1-10 (mean 5) enlarged ovarian follicles per female; laid clutches contained 2-8 eggs per female; sexually mature apparently in 3 years; mates probably fall through spring, with oviposition in late spring or early summer; eggs hatch in August and early September (Wilkinson et al. 1993, Briggler and Puckette 2003).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
ArkansasS3Yes
OklahomaS2Yes
MissouriS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——High (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areas——High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource use——High (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (7)
Arkansas (7)
AreaForestAcres
Devils CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,877
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Gee CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,957
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
PenhookOzark-St. Francis National Forest6,566
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
References (11)
  1. Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.
  2. Briggler, J. T., and W. L. Puckette. 2003. Observations on reproductive biology and brooding behavior of the Ozark zigzag salamander, <i>Plethodon angusticlavius</i>. Southwestern Naturalist 48:96-100.
  3. Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.
  4. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  5. Elliott, W. R. 2003. A guide to Missouri's cave life: 70 species brought to life. Missouri Department of Conservation. 37 pp.
  6. Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
  7. Highton, R. 1997. Geographic protein variation and speciation in the <i>Plethodon dorsalis</i> complex. Herpetologica 53:345-356.
  8. Johnson, T.R. 1977. The Amphibians of Missouri. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Public Education Series 6: ix + 134 pp.
  9. Mahoney, M. J. 2001. Molecular systematics of <i>Plethodon </i>and <i>Aneides </i>(Caudata: Plethodontini): phylogenetic analysis of an old and rapid radiation. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 18:174-188.
  10. Thurow, G.R. 1966. <i>Plethodon dorsalis</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 29.11-29.3.
  11. Wilkinson, R.F., C.L. Peterson, D. Moll and T. Holder. 1993. Reproductive biology of <i>Plethodon dorsalis</i> in northwestern Arkansas. Journal of Herpetology. 27:85-87.